The Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared 117 senatorial aspirants as nuisance candidates for the coming May 2025 Midterm elections.
From the total of 183 aspirants, only 66 senatorial bets were included in the list of candidates, higher than the 64 who ran in the 2022 national elections.
Poll chairman George Garcia said the 66 legitimate candidates remain subject to change depending on several factors, including pending disqualification cases, petitions to declare candidates as a nuisance, and legal appeals by those contesting their exclusion.
Garcia disclosed that the motu proprio petition against the 117 senatorial aspirants has already been decided by the Comelec First and Second Divisions.
The poll body chief said the Comelec adopts a “totality rule” for declaring nuisance candidates, which considers factors such as whether an aspirant has no political party, lacks a social media presence, and is running as an independent candidate.
He also added that having no statements, policies, or platforms can add to their discernment of the rule.
However, Garcia said the declared nuisance aspirants could still avail of a legal remedy by filing a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec en banc or file a restraining order before the Supreme Court.
The Comelec has earlier declared 47 senatorial aspirants as nuisance bets who may no longer be able to run in the May 2025 midterm polls.
The Omnibus Election Code (OEC) defines a nuisance candidate as one who files a certificate of candidacy (COC) to put the election process in mockery or disrepute; or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates; or which clearly demonstrates that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office and to prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Comelec declares 117 senatorial aspirants as nuisance candidates.”
